Suffolk County Sheriff's Officer Charged With Attacking Teens

NORTON (CBS) – An officer with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department has been charged with attacking teenagers in Norton.

Four teens told police they were in a car at the beach on Juniper Road around 7 p.m. Sunday when a man approached them claiming to be a police officer.

When the teens questioned him, police say the man, 43-year-old Jeffrey Parillo, pulled one of them out of the car and started hitting him.

"The teens informed police that they went to the aid of the other teen and held Parillo to the ground before police arrived," Norton police said in a statement.

Parillo was not wearing a uniform during the incident.

But investigators said one of the teens found a .380-caliber handgun on the ground that belonged to Parillo.

Police took the gun and arrested Parillo.

He was arraigned Monday in Attleboro District Court on charges of assault and battery, disorderly conduct and carrying a firearm while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

Peter Van Delft, a spokesman for the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, said Parillo was immediately placed on administrative leave.

"The allegations are troubling and we take them very seriously. We are in the process of gathering more information from the Norton Police Department and Officer Parillo himself and, pending investigation, we will take appropriate actions," he said.